ActivitiesHikingBlackwood Canyon / Barker Pass Trailhead
Blackwood Canyon / Barker Pass Trailhead
West Shore, hiking, moderate
Gentle paved canyon road climbs 4 miles through aspen groves and open meadows to Barker Pass TRT junction. Excellent mixed-use corridor — ride up, hike back or link to TRT. One of the quietest and most scenic west shore access roads.
In short: Blackwood Canyon / Barker Pass Trailhead is a moderate hike on Lake Tahoe's West Shore: 8 mi round trip, 1,600 ft of elevation gain, a high point of 7,650 ft. The season is Jun – Oct, no permit is needed, dogs are allowed.
- Distance, round trip
- 8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,600 ft
- High point
- 7,650 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Where it is
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Trail details
- Paved canyon road to Barker Pass
- Aspen groves & meadows
- TRT connection at summit
- Multiple use — quiet & scenic
- Trail
- Blackwood Canyon — Ward Creek — TRT
- Season
- Jun – Oct
- Permit
- None needed
- Parking
- Free, Restrooms, Off Hwy 89 near Tahoe City
- Dogs
- Allowed
Go with a guide. Walk the basin with a local guide, on a trail matched to your group and the season.
Guided hikeConditions today
- Right now
- 72°F, Sunny
- Today
- High 72°, low 48°
- Wind
- 8 mph
- Campfires
- Metal rings only
- TomorrowPartly Cloudy, 10% chance of rain68° 45°
- ThuMostly Clear, 5% chance of rain74° 50°
- FriPM Storms, 75% chance of rain61° 44°
Know before you go
- Permits
- Desolation Wilderness needs a permit for both day hikes and overnight trips. Most other trails in the basin need none.
- Parking
- Lots at Eagle Falls, D.L. Bliss and other popular trailheads fill by 9am on summer weekends. Start early or go midweek.
- Altitude
- Trailheads start around 6,300 feet and the highest summits top 10,000. Carry more water than you would at sea level and take the first day easy.
- Weather
- Summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms. Plan to be off exposed ridges and summits by early afternoon.
More hiking within 5 miles
- Ellis Peak Trailhead0.8 mi, strenuous
- Ward Creek / Stanford Rock Trailhead3.1 mi, moderate
- Tahoe City TRT Trailhead4.7 mi, moderate
Nearest campgrounds
- Kaspian Campground0.7 mi, 10 sites
- William Kent Campground1.9 mi, 95 sites
- Tahoe State Recreation Area4.7 mi, 23 sites